The other reviews accurately describe the wonderful character development (and there are plenty to develop not only in Nick and Nora but a whole idiosyncratic cast) and complex plot that has seldom been equaled in the murder/detective biz.While every scene is a filmmaker's delight (dialogue, body and facial language, conflict), watch for two scenes that are special.Warning viewers of scenes to watch for is not a spoiler -- it enhances the anticipation. They can be summarized as follows.In one series of scenes that goes on for six minutes without dialogue, only wariness and tension, Powell/Charles and a major suspect hunt each other through an apartment house, gathering clues with guns drawn.In the other strong scene that lasts only a few seconds, and has none of the clever repartee, Nora is confronted by the killer. He warns her, and all the viewer can see are her eyes, but the viewer in that quick contest of wills is shown her courage as strong as anything Nick displays.Other reviews call this film "excellent" and "superb". Indeed.

Nick Charles (William Powell) is asked by the cousin of his wife Nora (Myrna Loy) to locate her ne'er do well husband, missing for three days. Soon a murder is committed and Nick is on the case. Terrific sequel to the classic Thin Man. Considered by many to be even better than the first film. I'm a big fan of the Thin Man series. Of all the various detective series the studios made in the '30s and '40s, this is one of the best. That's mostly due to it being an 'A' production with two big name actors in the lead with typically solid supporting players. Not to mention the series had healthy doses of humor to go along with the mysteries. As you might expect, William Powell and Myrna Loy are perfect here. They're charming and delightful as ever. Jimmy Stewart, Joseph Calleia, Elissa Landi, George Zucco, Penny Singleton, Paul Fix, and more make up the fine supporting cast, probably the best of all the Thin Man films. Penny Singleton even gets to sing a couple of songs. Of course, I should also mention the dog Asta, who steals all his scenes. The humor is wonderful and the mystery is quite good. I've seen it many times but I remember being surprised the first time at who the killer turned out to be. It's really a fun movie. If you're new to the series, I would suggest starting at the beginning but I don't think you will be lost if you start here. One thing is for sure -- whether it's your first Thin Man movie or not, it won't be your last. These movies are just too good to stop until you've seen them all.

The Thin Man was a box office smash, and MGM wanted another hit so what are you going to call a sequel made so long After The Thin Man.There was a two year delay while Myrna Loy fought with Louis B. Mayer for a better contract, and for writer Dashell Hammet to sober up enough to write the story.27 year old James Stewart ran around the set taking pictures of Loy telling everyone he was going to marry her someday, problem was she was already married to producer Arthur Hornblower! In the beginning of the film his character adds a well grounded performance in a sea of out of balance characters.Same story writer Hammett, same married screenwriters Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett, same director Van Dyke and same 3 leads, Powell/Loy/Asta. But a new character is introduced, Mrs. Asta!James Stewart said later in his career he appreciated this film because the screen writing team of Goodrich and Hackett actually discovered him on the Broadway stage and wrote this part for him!This film starts just 3 days after The Thin Man left off and aboard the same train going from New York to San Francisco.The "dog leash gag" which everyone was talking about in the original Thin Man is repeated as soon as they arrive at the station.The formula of the criminals as Nicks friends continues with an assortment of colorful characters and we now meet some of Nora's high classed (read boring) friends and family.In The Thin Man they celebrated Christmas, in After they celebrate New Years Eve.The best gag in After also includes Asta, a black puppy and a Scottish terrier, but you'll have to discover that yourself.Elissa Landi plays a neurotic young wife, Jessie Ralph plays a pompous rotund lady who intentionally mispronounces names, Sam Levene plays a world weary police inspector, George Zucco plays an odd psychiatrist. This was the first film in more than five years made by actress Dorothy McNulty, who had been appearing on Broadway during the early 1930s. She changed her hair color and name in 1938 to Penny Singleton, and became more familiar under that name when she played the lead in Columbia's Blondie series. She plays the mouthy nightclub singer. (The Illiterate gag is priceless!)One of everyone's favorite character is the stranger who welcomes them to a surprise party not knowing they are the guests of honor, advising them to crash it just like he did and drink up the Napoleon Brandy before they are caught.Just like the original you have to pay attention, the cast of suspects and murders add up quick between the jokes and danger. And just like the first film it all works out when the usual suspects are gathered together and the clues are gone over… and it all adds up. For a mystery to be good it has to have a satisfactory resolution in facts and it AFTER THE THIN MAN does!The most romantic scene is when Nick lists his complaints about Nora.The formula works so they still use many of the same elements: 1) Nick wants to stay retired & drunk. 2) Nora is still rich but wants to have fun detecting. 3) Nick gets dragged into another case and knows more than the police. 4) Asta finds a valuable clue."Say what is this Bank Night," refers to the common practice during the great depression for cinemas to host games, contests or give away dishes to increase attendance.This same year, 1936 Powell & Loy appeared in another great screwball comedy LIBELED LADY with Spencer Tracy & Jean Harlow and THE GREAT ZEIGFELD which won the Oscar that year for Best Film Of The Year! Check the trivia for the great San Francisco Hotel story…They made 14 films together and only 6 of them were Thin Man films. The next in the series, what better title than Another Thin Man. And who was named the number one box office attraction of 1936, who else Myrna Loy!

What saves AFTER from being a routine sequel is the acting of Powell and Loy, along with the marvelous Sam Levene as a pushy detective and veteran actress Jessie Ralph as Nora's dowager aunt Catherine, who looks down on Nick. Having other great character players like George Zucco and Joseph Calleia in small but key roles also helps. Nick and Nora are back in California after the events in NYC. Nora's cousin (played by a pretty but truly awful actress named Elissa Landi) asks them to help her find her wandering, womanizing husband. A young Jimmy Stewart plays a pivotal role as a devoted friend of Landi's. The Asta antics in this one are funny but a bit overdone, much like Cheetah's antics in the Weismuller Tarzan movies.